Compare Local Pros
Excite Energy vs Hatch Electric
El Dorado Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a solar specialist with 9 years experience to a general electrical contractor with 52 years servicing the region—choose based on your project type.
| Excite Energy | Hatch Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.4 |
| Years Licensed | 9 years | 52 years |
| License # | 1018541 | 291539 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | El Dorado Hills, CA | South Lake Tahoe, CA |
| Website | exciteenergy.com | www.hatchelectric.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Excite Energy
Customers consistently praise Excite Energy's detailed technical proposals with 3-D modeling, no-pressure educational approach, competitive pricing, and strong follow-up warranty support for solar-specific equipment.
Hatch Electric
Customers highlight Hatch Electric's responsive owner communication with early callbacks, straightforward hourly billing, punctual service appointments, and reliability during electrical emergencies.
Key Takeaway: Excite Energy's feedback focuses entirely on solar project expertise and system design quality, while Hatch Electric's reviews emphasize accessibility and responsiveness for general electrical service calls—reflecting fundamentally different service models.
Customer Reviews
Excite Energy
Great experience with Excite Energy. Everyone we dealt with was professional and they went out of their way to meet the timeline. The install looks great and exceeded our expectations. I highly recomm...
Excite installed my Tesla 3 Battery/Powerwall. It was a good experience. Will was my installer and he was very meticulous with his workmanship and very helpful in answering my questions. I highly reco...
My original inverter failed and I needed a replacement. Contacted Excite Energy after a positive recommendation. Heath immediately ordered a more modern inverter, contacted me when it arrived and di...
Hatch Electric
Charo and Akita were wonderful and helped us greatly during a busy time. ðŸ™
The best in town
Best electricians in town with the fairest prices. Won't try to gauge you on initial assessment fees just charge a basic hourly fee and do the work that's necessary.
Consider Excite Energy if...
- ✓ You're installing a new solar system or adding battery backup to your home and need a contractor who specializes in photovoltaic design, utility interconnection, and solar-specific permitting processes.
- ✓ You want detailed technical analysis including 3-D modeling and customized energy usage calculations rather than a standard cookie-cutter solar proposal.
- ✓ You value warranty support and ongoing service from a contractor who exclusively works with solar equipment and stays current on inverter technology, battery systems, and solar-specific troubleshooting.
- ✓ Your project involves complex installations like ground-mount systems or system expansions that require engineering-focused design work.
Consider Hatch Electric if...
- ✓ You need general electrical service, repairs, power outage troubleshooting, or traditional electrical installations rather than solar-specific work.
- ✓ You prefer working with a deeply established local contractor with over five decades serving South Lake Tahoe and want the stability that comes from multi-generational operation.
- ✓ You value responsive emergency service with direct owner communication and straightforward hourly billing without high diagnostic fees for electrical troubleshooting.
- ✓ Your property is in or near South Lake Tahoe and you need a contractor familiar with local electrical codes and building department relationships spanning 52 years.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Excite Energy: Ask for references from solar installations similar to your property size and complexity, and clarify what warranty coverage they provide for both equipment and installation labor.
- → For Hatch Electric: Ask directly whether they perform solar panel installations and have staff trained specifically in photovoltaic systems, battery integration, and utility interconnection requirements.
- → For either contractor: Confirm their typical project timeline from contract signing through final utility activation and what factors might cause delays in your specific area.
The Bottom Line
If you're installing solar panels, adding battery backup, or upgrading an existing solar system, Excite Energy is the appropriate choice—they specialize exclusively in this work with detailed technical proposals, solar-specific permitting expertise, and demonstrated warranty support. If you need general electrical repairs, power troubleshooting, or traditional electrical service, Hatch Electric's 52-year local presence and responsive emergency service make them the better fit. This isn't about one company being superior overall; it's about matching contractor specialization to your actual project type. Don't hire a solar specialist for electrical panel work, and don't assume general electrical experience translates to solar installation expertise.
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Frequently Asked Questions
General electrical licensing allows solar work, but nothing in Hatch Electric's description or customer feedback indicates they specialize in or regularly perform solar installations. Solar projects require specific expertise in photovoltaic system design, inverter selection, battery integration, and navigating utility interconnection agreements that differs substantially from traditional electrical work. Ask them directly about their solar project experience and request references from recent solar installations before assuming their electrical expertise translates to solar specialization.
For solar work specifically, 9 years represents solid experience—Excite Energy has been operating through significant evolution in solar technology, incentive programs, and installation best practices. The relevant question isn't total years in any electrical work, but years focused on solar installations. Customer feedback shows Excite Energy successfully handles complex permitting, provides detailed technical proposals, and supports warranty issues for solar-specific equipment, demonstrating the specialized competency solar projects require.
Both serve El Dorado County, but location affects response time and local permitting relationships. If you're in South Lake Tahoe, Hatch Electric's 52-year presence means established relationships with local building departments and inspectors. If you're in the greater Sacramento/foothills region, Excite Energy operates closer to your area. More importantly, choose based on whether you need solar-specific expertise or general electrical service, then verify the contractor regularly works in your specific jurisdiction.
Many contractors use DBAs (doing business as names) for marketing or to serve different market segments, which is legal when properly registered. The important factor is that all work is performed under their active California contractor license, which is the case here. Customer reviews reference these names without raising concerns, suggesting consistent service regardless of which business name was used for marketing purposes.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in El Dorado.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 12, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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